Northern Light: The Paintings of Akseli Gallen-Kallela

Art lovers in the UK are as likely to see the Aurora Borealis as they are to see the vibrant and luminous paintings of Akseli Gallen-Kallela.

Gallen-Kallela, born Axel Gallén, travelled extensively during his lifetime. Yet his name is synonymous with his native Finland, where he is hailed as the country’s national painter. He was one of the few artists to illustrate the Kalevala – Finland’s 19th Century epic poem.

His paintings combine a reverence for his native country, a land of lakes and forests, with an understanding of the artistic developments of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.

This talk will shed light on this ‘hidden-gem’ artist, whose work ranges from Realism to Symbolism.